Daijah
well this is the first book to make me throw up lol.
as soon as i heard one of my very first booktube friends was coming out with a book, i knew it was going to be life-changing and i am here to say, it definietly was. this is what extreme horror should be and this story is a blueprint for the entire genre from here on out.
jeanette's world turns into a nightmare when an emergency broadcast disrupts her cozy evening, plunging her into a realm of chaos and terror, in “them” by mique watson. this masterful work of extreme horror that left me captivated from start to finish.
the delicate balance between gut-wrenching violence and a deep dive into the human psyche in “them” is absolutely mind-blowing. the intense gore may be too much for some people's stomachs to bare (including mine lol) but it goes beyond just shock to explore the twisted intricacies of our own minds. this book truly has rekindled my love for horror, and it's evident that the author poured their heart and soul into crafting every word.
mique's writing flows effortlessly, weaving together vivid character development, spine-tingling imagery, clever nods to horror media, and unputdownable suspense. their sheer genius shines through, creating an immersive experience that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. and believe it or not, amidst the chaos and terror, the characters are treated with care and respect, adding just another layer of depth to the narrative.
while I'm thrilled to have a personal connection to mique and the opportunity to read an advance copy, my love for this story goes far beyond that. this book takes you on a thrilling roller coaster ride through the darkest corners of terror, leaving you breathless and hungry for more with each heart-stopping twist.
i want to express my heartfelt thanks to mique for allowing me to get an advance copy. i'm eagerly awaiting the next twisted tale that will undoubtedly emerge from the depths of their brilliantly twisted mind.
so buckle up and get ready for a thrill ride like no other!
an absolute must-read memoir. it's raw, honest, and beautifully written. chanel miller takes you on her incredible journey, shining a much-needed light on important issues. i relate to this book on a multitude of levels and it is deeply personal to me. this book is truly life-changing and deserves all the praise.
i loved the ides of these revenge story dealing with these sick people that believe they care about children but are molesters. i love the concept so much and the writing was done extremely well around the gore. personally in this story, being in this man's head took me out the story and is the only reason i'm not giving this 5 stars. the execution, the writing, and the care that was put in this story was phenomenal.
so this is hard for me to write because eric truly is one of my favorite authors so i'm going to focus more on what i liked but first the things i didn't like.
this book did not feel like an eric book besides the prose. it felt like this was trying to be forced into a “normal” novel format, and eric and their stories, work better, written not in a traditional way. this book was also incredibly slow for most of the story which really dragged it down.
despite that i did love the prose as usual, and i think those who think his writing is “pretentious” may enjoy the writing in here more. i also loved loved loved the characters. i really resonate with them even though they were men and i truly cared about them. i also really liked the way their stories connected together but i do thing there could have been more throughout the rest of the story to make the transition of the connection better.
lastly, i loved the themes. one of the primary themes in the novel is the darkness of humanity and the lengths people will go to in order to achieve their desires, regardless of the cost. the characters in the book are driven by their own motivations. and the story shows the devastating effects of unchecked ambition and the desire for power. this is intertwined with the exploration of hatred and bigotry that lurks beneath the surface of society. this story exposes the dangers of intolerance and prejudice, particularly towards marginalized communities. It portrays the impact of hate crimes and how they can escalate into something much more sinister.
2023 reread
this reread made me connect to the story and the themes significantly more!
2022 readread for strangeathon 2022: lgbtq+ rep
i really enjoyed the writing here because it was so good. most horror literally doesn't affect me anymore but something about eric larocca's writing truly makes me feel unsettled and disturbed. i wish we had more of the actual story and less of the book within the book and seeing the connection between those more but i still enjoyed this book immensely nonetheless.
2023 reread:the notalgia of it all
2018 reread:
The first time I gave this 3 stars. I don't know why I did that because the second time around, I loved this so much. I know this definitely has some faults like the writing isn't the best but it is pretty good. I give this a 4.5 stars but this book is so nostalgic for me. The characters are the world to me and I forgot so many things that happen but it felt so familiar at the same time. I don't think I could ever love a series as much as I love the Shadowhunter Chronicles. The Hunger Games got me into reading but I was just bored so after that, I picked up Divergent. I got addicted to it and I wanted more so I picked up the Mortal Instruments. My love for Divergent and the Hunger Games has dwindled over the 4 years since I read them. I will always love what they did for me but I don't love them anymore. But this series. I love it still and I will love it forever. On my deathbed I will reread all of Cassandra Clare's books and be so happy that it was the last thing I read.
so i really loved the discussion and metaphors for what it's like to be gay dealing with HIV specifically during the AIDs epidemic. I also adored the writing in this beyond belief but on the other hand i was hella bored throughout this story even though it's less than 250 pages and the actual plot outside of the synopsis did not start until about 65% in which is just too slow for me. i also don't enjoy being in men's heads this much but i'm not faulting the book for that. and the rush limbaugh aspect was a choice and not one i liked lol. overall there was things i liked and those i didn't.
